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Stopping The Asian Carp Invasion
(2009-11-17)
Watching the sun set on the beach in Frankfort, Michigan (photo by Steve Carmody, Michigan Radio)
(Associated Press) -
Officials will dump poison into a nearly six-mile section of a canal south of Chicago to prevent Asian carp from invading Lake Michigan.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it's a necessary step during maintenance work on an electronic barrier deployed this year against the huge fish.

The barrier jolts fish swimming northward through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal toward Lake Michigan. It will be down for several days beginning Dec. 2.

During that time, a toxin called rotenone will be poured into the water to kill Asian carp and other fish.

Asian carp can reach 4 feet long and more than 100 pounds. Scientists say if they reach the Great Lakes, they could out-compete native species for food and detroy the $7 billion sport fishery.
© Copyright 2012, Associated Press